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Opportunity Corridors Welcome Visitors To Tampa

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In an attempt to make the City of Tampa a more inviting place to travelers and first-time visitors, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn recently announced the Opportunity Corridors Project.

As part of the project, highly traveled corridors such as Ashley Drive, Nebraska Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Tampa will receive improvements beginning in May 2012. These areas are what Mayor Buckhorn calls the “front doors” of the City.

“Mayor Buckhorn believes that major transportation arteries are economic development opportunities,” says David Vaughn, director of contract administrations with the City of Tampa. “Planned improvements are currently under design and include new landscape and irrigation in existing unpaved areas.”

According to Vaughn, the landscaping will include the use of colorful, low maintenance, Florida-friendly greenery such as trees, shrubs and ground covers. Some locations, including Ashley Drive, Jefferson/Scott Street, Orange/Cass Street and Brorein/Channelside will also receive aesthetic lighting fixtures.

“Construction documents for bidding are currently being prepared,” Vaughn says.

Installation of these improvements is expected to take between 60 and 90 days with Ashley Drive being the first to receive improvements in time for the Republican National Convention. Construction on the remaining corridors will be spread out over the next four years.